MMA Fighter Kimbo Slice Dies at 42

Kevin Ferguson, who gained fame as one of the sport's first wave of rough-and-ready brawlers, died in a hospital near his home in Florida, Bellator MMA confirmed.

by Gary Cotton for Muscle & Fitness

June 7, 2016 11.09am

Mixed martial artist, actor and street-fight superstar Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson has passed away at the age of 42, Bellator MMA announced late Monday.

"We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member of the Bellator family," Bellator President Scott Coker said in a statement. "One of the most popular MMA fighters ever, Kimbo was a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport. Outside of the cage he was a friendly, gentle giant and a devoted family man. His loss leaves us all with extremely heavy hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ferguson family and all of Kimbo's friends, fans, and teammates."

Details regarding Ferguson's death have not been released. He died in a hospital near his home in Florida and no foul play is suspected, the BBC reported.

Ferguson rose to fame as a viral street-fight star, shocking viewers across the globe with his fierce stature and accurate, powerful striking. Ferguson made his MMA debut in 2007 and won his UFC debut against Houston Alexander in 2009 after a rousing appearance on UFC's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. After an up-and-down stint in the UFC, Ferguson moved on to Elite XC before continuing his MMA career with Bellator. In his last bout he knocked out Dada 5000, although the fight was ruled a no contest after Ferguson tested positive for a banned substance.